Expected increase in participants...
Organisers likely to introduce micro-chip timing
The 21st edition of the BMW Malta Marathon will be held on March 5, 2006. The Malta Marathon Organising Committee (MMOC) is forecasting an increase in participation next year due to an extensive marketing promotion in Germany in collaboration with the Malta Tourism Authority.
The MMOC with the aid of Nirvana Europe Ltd, also mailed 6,000 Malta Marathon brochures to participants of the Great North Run, the world's largest Half Marathon, in the UK.
How successful the increase in participation will be is a question that can only be answered once the completed entry forms are returned.
For some years the number of participants has averaged 750 runners. The MMOC hope that next year's field could be closer to 1,000 runners.
BMW are once again the main sponsors of the event. Extremely pleased with their collaboration with the event organisers in recent years, the company is delighted to extend its sponsorship into 2006.
Air Malta, Powerade, San Michel and Urban Jungle have also confirmed their continuing commitment as Official Suppliers to the 2006 race.
It is possible that the finishing times next March will be recorded through the use of chip timing. This involves each runner attaching a small micro-chip device to their shoe which will automatically record their start and finish times. The MMOC is planning to use chip timing due to the anticipated increase in participation. The margin of error due to a greater number of participants will be far less then manual timing.
The chips will be distributed at race registration together with the running numbers and will be collected from each runner once they cross the finish line.
Everyone living in Malta appreciates the traffic jam that seems to instantly form when there is any impediment in the flow of traffic on arterial roads.
Although cities such as London and New York seem to manage to close all roads for the duration of their marathons, it has proven impossible to do so in Malta.
Nevertheless, although the 2006 Malta Marathon will not be 100 per cent traffic free, there will be far more traffic control than in previous editions of the marathon.
It is expected that there will be a good number of roads that will be totally closed to traffic while in other areas a traffic-free lane will be restricted to athlete-use only. The MMOC are collaborating closely with the Malta Police (who have been of immense help) to restrict traffic along the route.
It is hoped that the recently re-opened resurfaced roads will improve the flow of both runners and traffic on race morning.
Although the routes for both races (marathon and half marathon) are still being finalised, it is expected that they will once more travel down the Zebbug Road through Qormi and out to Marsa.
More details on the exact routes will be forthcoming in future articles.